The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-03
AFFAIRS OF THE RAILWAYS.
pinion OF the Interstate Commission.


Opinion of the Interstate Commission
WASHINGTON, Nov 2-The following is syl-
labus of the opinion and finding of the Inter
tate Commerce Commission upon the Boards
f Trade of Pennington, Mortified, Fairbault.
and Owatonnata. in the State of Minnesota,
against the Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul Rail-
way Company:
The Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Company owns and operates extensive sys-
tenn of railroads. One of its lines, used largely
for the transportation of wheat, runs from a
point in Dakota Territory through Minneapolis,
TO St. Paul, to Milwaukee and Chicago Between
Minneapolis and Milwaukee the defendant has
two routes, one by way Of Redwing and other
towns, called the river division, and being
the t hor,ss., route; the other h way, way
towns, and called the Iowa & Minnesota division.
The through rate wheat from the western
terminus in Dakota to Milwaukee and Chicago
Ia % cents per 100 pounds, with the privilege of
milling In transit on both the above mentI TONED
divisions. The rate wheat from said West
when consigned there, and most, if not all, OF
which is carried by other rcaos is III cents
hundred. The rate on the river division or the
from Minneapolis to Milwaukee and Chicago.
and from all intermediate and connecting
points on that route. is q cents nunorea
pounds. The rate wheat on the Iowa g Mil
yankee division from Minneapolis and the inter
mediate towns that division is 10 cents per
100 pounds except from Pennington. which IS
134 cents The rate on other commodities IS
the same by both routes. The fact that the rate
for wheat on the Iowa and Milwaukee division is
double the rate enjoyed by neiRhboring towns on
the other division works practically to their dis
advantage and prejudice. On complaint OF
millers and others the Iowa and Milwaukee
division Of unjust discrimination. it is held that
the complaint is we'll founded; that the rate
for wheat on that division is relatively too
high. While reasonable differential
rate may be allowed on that division on account
- - 1l.hI l,--
Of trauspor tation and the greater strineency of
the competitive forces the river division, the
difference above the present rate on the river
division should not exceed two and half cents
q hundred. It is not a sufilent compliance
with the law that rates
sonabls IN themselves. but they should
communities and business against unjust dis
elimination. When the same carrier operates
parallel lines, and for any accepts low rates
one line, it should furnish sufficient CORES
ponding advantages 30 the patrons of the other
line to prevent undue prejudice and disadvan-
tage, and preserve the substantial equality
contemplated by the statute.
Scarcity of Cars East Well as West.
The Pennsylvania and Reading railroads have
recently been obliged to add their equipment
In order to accommodate the amount of freight
Offering There now nearly 10000 freight
the Pennsylvania railroad east of Pitts
burg and Erie and yet the supply is inadequate
TO the demand. This does not include the equip
ment of the Northern Central, the Philadelphia
& Wilming ton or the West Jersey. which in
cludes probably 10. 900 more. These cars
are all kept moving. and the record officers
are following them up closely. Hardly has
car been switched into the yard of consignee
when he is served with a notice to unload the
car Immediately, or he will be charged for de-
lay. With the utmost exertions of the division
euperintendsnts and the record department.
many shippers are unable to obtain cars for their
business. The Reading railroad, with equip
ment of over 80 600 freight cars, can accommo
date it's shippers but little better than the Penn
sylvania. Many complaints have been made.
but the officials say they are doing the best they
The pressure of traffic is so great that
trains must be moved slowly. The Jersey Cen
trail is relatively as bad off as the Pennsylvania
or Reading, and all three companies have been
trying to borrow cars from other railroads with
little success.
wheat regions are greatly. distressed for want of
cnrs with which to move the enormous amount
of wheat now in the country. The elevators
all full. and everything that can hold wheat
is crowded. The farmers have neglected their
blowing to ges their wheat to market and now it
comes all at once and overwhelms the railroads.
The Export Rate Question Settled.
New YORK, Nov. 2.-The executive committee
of the trunk lines decided the matter of export
rates at its meeting in Commissioner Fink's Of
fee to-day. All the trunk lines we're represent
ed and also the Grand Trunk. The latter ac-
guessed in the decision of the committee. By
the rule adopted the average through
rate to Liverpool from Chicago was
adopted as the rate for all routes
to the other side of the Atlantic. By this ar
rangement will cost the by which every
seaboard outlet export stuff may be forwarded,
that is, if the freight is sent by way of Boston.
New York or Baltimore. the through rate to
Liverpool will be the same Mr. Fink presided
at the Getting. He stated that the rule adopted
decided nothing about the. railroads apportion-
ment of the through freight charge. That mat
ter must be decided between the steamship
companies and the railroads. The Grand Trunk
had acquiesced in the decision, but of course
were not bound by the decision any longer than
they agreed to the same.